Council on American-Islamic Relations 453 New Jersey Ave S.E
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Council on American-Islamic Relations 453 New Jersey Ave S.E. Washington, D.C. 20003 Tele 202 488 8787 Fax 202 488 0833 E-mail: [email protected], URL www.cair.com What They Say About CAIR (October 2014) AWARDS AND RECOGNITIONS 2014: CAIR-National Executive Director Nihad Awad was again named one of the world’s 500 most influential by Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. 2014: CAIR-National Executive Director Nihad Awad was included among Arabian Business Magazine’s annual “500 most powerful Arabs in the world.” 2014: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area Executive Director Zahra Billoo received an Unsung Hero Award from the National Lawyers Guild-SF Chapter. 2014: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area Government Relations Consultant and CAIR-Calif. Board Secretary Sameena Usman received an Asian Pacific Islander American Leadership Award from Calif. Assembly Member Bob Wieckowski. 2014: CAIR-Mich. Executive Director Dawud Walid received the 2014 Booker T. Washington Social Justice Award from the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Task Force, Inc. 2014: CAIR-Minn. Board Chair Kausar Hussain received the Outstanding Contribution Award from the Council on Asian-Pacific Minnesotans (CAPM). 2014: CAIR-Minn. Executive Director Lori Saroya was awarded a 2014 Bush Fellowship by the Minnesota-based Bush Foundation. 2014: CAIR-Los Angeles’ Communications Coordinator Yasmin Nouh received a “Women Making a Difference” award from Calif. State Senator Lou Correa. 2014: Zainab Chaudry, Co-Founder and Chair of CAIR-Md. Outreach office, received a governor’s citation signed by Governor Martin O’Malley for her work with the South Asian Community at the Governor’s Pan Asian Summit. 2013: CAIR-National Executive Director Nihad Awad received the Prophet Ibrahim Interfaith Award from the National Islamic Committee on Scouting. 2013: CAIR-Mich. Staff Attorney Lena Masri was honored by the Federal Bar Association for her extensive “pro bono legal services on behalf of poor and indigent clients in the Eastern District of Michigan.” 1 2013: CAIR-Mich. Staff Attorney Lena Masri was awarded by the Syrian American Medical Society, Michigan Chapter (SAMS-MI) and the Syrian Expatriates Organization (SEO) for her “dedication and commitment to serve the cause of medical and humanitarian relief.” 2013: CAIR-Minn. Won the “Making A Difference Through Pro Bono Work.” This award commemorates institutions in the legal profession that have been committed to volunteering their services for the poor and disadvantaged. 2013: CAIR-Minn. was recognized by the Minnesota Philanthropy Partners among the ‘Nonprofits to Know.’” 2013: CAIR-Los Angeles Deputy Director Ameena Qazi received the Beacon of Light Award from Rev. Sarah Halverson at Fairview Community Church in Costa Mesa, Calif. 2013: The CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area chapter received the “Fred Korematsu Civil Rights” award from American Muslim Voice. 2013: The CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area chapter received the Champions of Justice Award from Muslim Legal Fund of America’s-SF Chapter. 2013: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area’s Executive Director Zahra Billoo received the Trailblazer award from the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California. 2013: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area’s Executive Director Zahra Billoo received an Asian Pacific Islander American Leadership Award from CA Assembly Member Bob Wieckowski. 2012: CAIR-SFBA Executive Director Zahra Billoo received the Community Service Award from the ICNA San Francisco Bay Area Chapter. 2012: Jordan’s Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center listed CAIR-National Executive Director Nihad Awad among the world’s 500 most influential Muslims. 2012: During Women’s History Month, Islamic Networks Group recognized five of CAIR’s key female leaders. 2012: CAIR-Minn. staffer Nausheena Hussain was given a Minnesota Council of Nonprofits 2012 Leadership Award in the Catalytic Leader category. 2012: CAIR-Mich. Executive Director Dawud Walid received an award from the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) for his work in promoting intrafaith and interfaith understanding and cooperation. 2012: CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab was appointed by Chicago’s mayor to the city’s New Americans Advisory Committee. 2011: CAIR-National received an award for “Civil Rights Preservation” from the Muslim Journal, the nation’s oldest American Muslim newspaper. The Muslim Journal has over 36 years of continuous weekly publication. 2 2011: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area’s Executive Director Zahra Billoo received the 2011 Public Interest Attorney of the Year Award from the South Asian Bar Association of Northern California (SABA-NC). 2011: CAIR-Minn. was awarded the 2011 Mission & Excellence Anti-Racism Award by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) and MAP for Nonprofits. The annual “Mission & Excellence” awards are given to six non-profit organizations that make “outstanding contributions to Minnesota's high quality of life.” 2011: CAIR-Minn. received the award in the “Anti-Racism” category. It awards an organization that “works to eliminate prejudice and racism in society; demonstrates a commitment to pluralism and inclusively; and develops unique and thought-provoking strategies to combat racism.” 2011: CAIR-National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper was recognized among the world’s “500 Most Influential Muslims” by the Jordan-based Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. 2011: CAIR-Mich. Executive Director Dawud Walid received two awards for civil rights advocacy at the Michigan Council of Human Rights (MCHR) annual banquet. 2011: CAIR-Mich. Executive Director Dawud Walid accepted the Spirit of Detroit Award given by the City Council of Detroit and the MCHR 2011 Activist Organization Award for advocating for the civil rights of all Americans through encouraging dialogue and building coalitions that promote justice and understanding. 2011: CAIR-Okla. Executive Director Muneer Awad was awarded the Russell Bennett Recognition by the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministries. The Russell Bennett Recognition is given to an individual who, like Russell Bennett, provides courageous social justice leadership within the Tulsa Metropolitan Ministry area. 2011: CAIR-National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper was profiled as a “DC Influencer” by PR Week. The publication is “the essential title for PR professionals in the US.” 2011: CAIR-Minn. was named a "2010 Difference Maker" by the St. Cloud Times. Each year, the publication’s editorial board selects individuals and groups it believes have made the biggest difference in the community. 2011: CAIR-Minn. co-founder and president Lori Saroya received the St. Catherine University 'Rising Star' Alumni Award for her community advocacy and social justice work with CAIR-Minn. 2011: CAIR-Wash. received the "Connecting Communities" award from the Faith Action Network. 2011: CAIR-National Executive Director Nihad Awad was included on the ”Power 500” list compiled by Arabian Business Magazine. 2011: CAIR-Mich. Executive Director Dawud Walid was awarded the "Pastor's Award" at Central United Methodist Church's 7th Annual Peace and Justice Banquet. The award recognizes Walid’s work in promoting religious dialogue and cooperation among Christian and Muslim clergy and speaking out against religious intolerance. 3 2010: CAIR-San Francisco Bay Area Executive Director Zahra Billoo received a San Francisco Minority Bar Coalition (MBC) 2010 Unity Award. 2010: CAIR-National Board Member Sarwat Husain received ‘the most Distinguished Alumni” award from the University of Incarnate Word 2010: CAIR-National Board Sarwat Husain won the “Peace Maker of the Year 2013” from Pax Christi USA’s National Catholic Organization 2010: CAIR-National Board Member Sarwat Husain received the “Headliner Award” from the Association for Women in Communication. 2010: CAIR-Minn. Co-founder and president Lori Saroya received a “Community Leadership Award” from the Islamic Resource Group, an affiliate of the Islamic Networks Group. 2010: CAIR-National Executive Director Nihad Awad was included on the “Arabian Business Power 100” list compiled by Arabian Business Magazine. In describing why Awad was named to the list the magazine said, “…CAIR’s actions have forced many large outlets to be more tolerant of Muslim culture.” 2009: CAIR-National Executive Director Nihad Awad was recognized among the world’s “500 Most Influential Muslims” by the Jordan-based Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center. 2009 and 2011: CAIR-MN co-founder and president Lori Saroya was recognized as a Facing Race Ambassador by the St. Paul Foundation. Facing Race Ambassador Awards celebrates and honors individuals and organizations working to create a racially equitable community. FEDERAL ELECTED OFFICIALS “Like the good folks standing with me, the American people were appalled and outraged at last Tuesday's attacks…This is a great country. It's a great country because we share the same values of respect and dignity and human worth. And it is my honor to be meeting with leaders who feel just the same way I do. They're outraged, they're sad. They love America just as much as I do.” - former President George W. Bush during a visit to a Washington, DC mosque, CAIR Executive Director Nihad Awad was among those accompanying the president, September 17, 2001 “The vision of CAIR to promote “justice and mutual understanding” is of course also an American vision, and its mission “to enhance understating of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding”